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Daniel Bryan confirmed on the October 24, 2020 episode of WWE Network show Talking Smack that this is his last run as a full-time Superstar.
"As I'm doing this last run, my thing isn't, 'I gotta prove to everybody that I'm the best.' When I'm out there, I'm proving things to myself and I want things better for the younger talent." [H/T Wrestling Inc.]
Daniel Bryan signed a three-year contract with WWE in September 2018, which means his current full-time deal is set to expire shortly after SummerSlam 2021.
As the man himself said, he does not plan on renewing his contract as a full-time Superstar after that date. However, he could still remain a WWE Superstar and work as a part-time in-ring competitor instead.
With less than a year left on his full-time contract, let’s count down five things that Daniel Bryan must do before that deal expires.
#5 Daniel Bryan must work with Dominik Mysterio
Daniel Bryan said he wants things to be better for younger talents in WWE, and current Superstars do not get much younger than Dominik Mysterio.
At the age of 23, Rey Mysterio’s son has emerged as a WWE star of the future over the last few months.
The up-and-coming Superstar made his in-ring debut against Seth Rollins at SummerSlam 2020 and he has since competed in another eight matches on WWE television.
Rollins has mentioned in out-of-character interviews that he sees it as his responsibility to build up WWE’s younger talent.
That view is clearly shared by Daniel Bryan, who made similar comments on Talking Smack.
It was recently confirmed that Dominik and Rey Mysterio are members of the SmackDown roster, meaning they are on the same brand as Daniel Bryan.
The WrestleMania 30 main-eventer has previously faced Rey Mysterio in two singles matches on WWE television. However, they have never been involved in a meaningful storyline together.
With that in mind, perhaps we could finally see a rivalry between Daniel Bryan and Rey Mysterio – also involving Dominik – in the next year.
#4 Daniel Bryan must challenge Roman Reigns
Although Daniel Bryan is focused on working with younger talents, he could still play an important role in WWE’s main-event scene before his contract expires.
Let’s face it, Roman Reigns is going to remain WWE Universal Champion for a very long time - and deservedly so. The only issue with that is the lack of credible Superstars on SmackDown who can face The Tribal Chief in a title storyline.
Reigns has officially cemented his status as a heel during his rivalry with Jey Uso. That means SmackDown is going to need some strong babyfaces to take on the former Shield member over the next few months.
The blue brand’s top male babyfaces currently include Apollo Crews, Big E, Daniel Bryan, Dominik Mysterio, Jey Uso, Kevin Owens, Murphy, Otis, and Rey Mysterio.
Realistically, none of those Superstars are going to win the Universal Championship from Reigns in the near future. In fact, it is difficult to see many of them even sharing the ring with him.
With a lack of main-event caliber good guys on the blue brand, do not be surprised if Daniel Bryan feuds with Reigns soon.
#3 Daniel Bryan must elevate the tag division
Daniel Bryan & Rowan lost the SmackDown Tag Team titles to Big E & Xavier Woods at WWE Extreme Rules 2019.
Speaking to WWE.com after the event, Daniel Bryan’s villainous character laid out his original plan to increase interest in the tag division in WWE.
“I tried to take them to the main event, I tried to take them to the main event of WrestleMania and I failed. I don’t think that it was me that failed. I think in pursuing this excellence, they brought me down to mediocrity. I was trying to elevate the tag team division but they’re un-elevatable. Do you hear that? Un-elevatable.”
WWE’s tag divisions underwent a resurgence in 2017, with teams including The Bar, The Hardy Boyz, and The Shield thriving on RAW.
Over on SmackDown, The New Day and The Usos competed in some of the best PPV matches of the year.
Unfortunately, as Daniel Bryan alluded to in those in-character comments in 2019, both male tag divisions have gone backwards since then.
If he can find the right partner, perhaps Daniel Bryan can have one last try at elevating the tag division over the next 10 months.
#2 Daniel Bryan must work with Chad Gable
If Daniel Bryan gets involved in another Tag Team Championship storyline, Chad Gable is the perfect Superstar to join forces with the five-time World Champion.
Earlier this year, Daniel Bryan successfully elevated Drew Gulak during their short rivalry on SmackDown.
Granted, Gulak was unable to defeat his enemy-turned-ally at Elimination Chamber, but the former Cruiserweight Champion’s stock still increased while working with Daniel Bryan.
It was teased on social media during Daniel Bryan’s three-month alliance with Gulak that Gable could join their group. However, that storyline never came to fruition on WWE television, with Gable continuing to perform as Shorty G instead.
Last week’s SmackDown saw Gable lose against Lars Sullivan, meaning he has now lost five matches in a row.
The former American Alpha member ditched his Shorty G gimmick after the match and insisted that he will be taken seriously as a WWE Superstar.
Now that Gulak is on RAW, perhaps Daniel Bryan could help elevate Gable’s new character by forming an alliance with the 2012 Olympian on SmackDown.
#1 Daniel Bryan must receive better storylines
Daniel Bryan is one of a select few Superstars who has succeeded as both a babyface and a heel in WWE.
Back in 2013-2014, Daniel Bryan became WWE's top babyface in the build-up to his World Heavyweight Championship triumph at WrestleMania 30.
After being forced to retire in 2016, Daniel Bryan returned as the same babyface character in 2018.
Although he still received positive reactions, The Leader of the Yes Movement’s amount of support was nowhere near the same level as 2013-2014.
With his popularity decreasing, Daniel Bryan drastically changed his character in late 2018. He stopped the "Yes!" chants and became an eco-friendly villain who preached his beliefs to the WWE Universe every week on SmackDown.
Now, fast forward to 2020, it is not like Daniel Bryan’s persona needs a drastic transformation. However, it is fair to say that the current version of his character is not exactly the most compelling Daniel Bryan that we have seen.
If WWE is going to get the best out of Daniel Bryan, it would be wise to treat him as a priority again on SmackDown.
After all, he has proven over the last decade that he is one of WWE’s best talkers and in-ring performers.
If there is one person in WWE that can be trusted with any storyline that WWE throws at them, it is Daniel Bryan.
